CIHM
Microfiche
Series
(IVIonographs)
ICIMH
Collection de
microfiches
(monographies)
Canadian Institute for Historical Microraproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiquos
1
Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibllographiques
The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original
copy available for filming. Features of this copy which
may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of
the images in the reproduction, or which may
significantly change the usual method of filming are
checked below.
n
n
D
D
n
D
D
D
n
D
Coloured covers /
Couverture de couleur
Covers damaged /
Couverture endommagte
Covers restored and/or laminated /
Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicuito
Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque
Coloured maps / Cartes g^ographiques en couleur
Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) /
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)
Coloured plates and/or illustrations /
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur
Bound with other material /
Reli6 avec d'autres documents
Only edition available /
Seule Edition disponible
Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along
interior margin / La reliure serrte peut causer de
I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge
int^rieure.
Blank leaves added during restorations may appear
within the text. Whenever possible, these have been
omitted from filming / Use peut que certaines pages
blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration
apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait
possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6\6 film^s.
Additional comments /
Commentaires suppl^mentaires:
L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a
6\6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem-
plaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibli-
ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite,
ou qui peuvent exiger une modifnation dans la m4tho-
de normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous.
I I Coloured pages / Pages de couleur
I I Pages damaged / Pages endomnug^es
D
Pages restored and/or laminated /
Pages restaurtes et/ou pellicul^es
0 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed /
Pages dteoior^es, tachetdes ou piqu^es
I I Pages detached / Pages d^tach^es
[•[ Showthrough/ Transparence
I I Quality of print varies /
D
D
D
Quality indgale de I'impression
Includes supplementary material /
Comprend du materiel suppi^mentaire
Pages wholly or partially obscured by en-ata slips,
tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best
possible image / Les pages totalement ou
partieliement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une
pelure, etc., ont 6\6 filmdes k nouveau de fagon h
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
Opposing pages with varying colouration or
discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best
possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des
colorations variables ou des decolorations sont
film^s deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image
possible.
Thia Kwn it filnMd at th* raducMon ratio dMdnd iMlow /
cadot
lOx
suinaf
taatfl
Vmaat
itaux
14x
darM
^wtOor
imHq
1«X
laaaou
m.
22x
26x
30x
J
12x
16x
20x
24x
28X
32x
Th« copy filmed h«r« hu b««n rapreduesd thanks
to the gsnarosity of:
Library
Agricuitura Canada
L'Mcmplair* film* fut raproduit griea A la
flAnArosit* da:
BibliotMqua
Agricuitura Canada
Tha Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality
poaaibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility
of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha
filming contract spacifieationa.
Laa imagaa suivantaa ont 4t* raproduitaa avac la
plua grand toin. eompta tanu da la condition at
da la nattat* da I'axamplaira film*, at an
conformiti avac laa conditiona du contrat da
filmaga.
Original eopiaa in printad papar eovars ara filmad
baginning with tha front covar and anding on
tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa-
sion, or tha back sovar whan appropriate. Ail
othar original eopiaa ara filmad baginning on tha
first paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa*
sion, and anding on tha laat paga with a printad
or illuatratad imprassion.
Laa axamplairaa originaux dont la couvartura an
papiar aat imprim4a sont film4s an comman^nt
par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la
damiAra paga qui comporta una amprainta
d'Impraaalon ou dliluatration. soit par la saeond
plat, salon la cas. Toua laa autrea axamplairaa
originaux sont filmte an commanqant par la
pramiAra paga qui comporta una amprainta
dlmpraaaion ou dliluatration at tn tarminant par
la damiira paga qui comporta una taila
amprainta.
Tha laat raeordad frama on aach mierofieha
shall contain tha symbol «^ (moaning "CON-
TINUEO"). or tha symbol ▼ (moaning "END"),
whichavar appiiaa.
Un daa symbolaa suivanta apparaitra sur la
damlAra imaga da chaqua mierofieha, salon la
caa: la symboia — » signifia "A SUIVRE". la
symbola ▼ signifia "FIN".
Mapa. plataa. eharta, ate., may ba filmad at
diffarant raduetion ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba
antiraly included in one expoaura ara filmad
beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to
right and top to bottom, aa many framea aa
required. The following diagrama iiiuatrata the
method:
Lee cartee, planchaa. tableaux, etc.. pauvant Atra
film4e k do* taux de rMuction diffirents.
Lorsque la documem aat trap grand pour itra
reproduit en un seul clich*. il aat film* A partir
do I'angla supMaur gauche, de gauche k droite.
et de haut an baa. an pranant la nombra
d'Imagae n4eeeaaira. Lea diagrammea suivanta
iliuatrent la m^thoda.
1 2 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
'*ICMOam RBOWTON TBT CHART
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHAUT No. 2)
^
i*" toil Main Slrm
(7'6) 288 - 5989 - Fo,
Ontario Department of Agriculture
ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
BULLETIN 280
Alfalfa
By
C. A. ZAVITZ, B.S.A., D.Sc.
Professor of Field Husbandry and Director of Field Experiments
A large plant of Alfalfa about seven feet in disi: Ur and still spreading bjr means
of creeping root s iss.
TORONTO. ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER, 192»
READ THIS, AM) 1 HEN READ THE Bl LLETIN
Alfalfa ha« Umm. Kr,..vn exiKTinu'i.tally at the U.A.C since If^UO.
The Ling varieties, aceonlin, to a ten-year te-t, mei.M.n, viehl an.l hardi-
ness lire (irimm and Ontario Varu-ated. \i,ro-eiilture
It i. n^uallv prolitable, hetore sowiuj;, to inoeuhUe the >ee,l «ith Nitro l iltuH
'1m, " 1 aed for '.owing should be of a., approved vanety free ot vv-eed
needs and should te,t high in gern.ination. The Seed Laboratory, Department of
Agrieulture, Ottawa, will test samples for punty and vitality.
Alfalfa may be gown—
(a) In July without a nur^e eiop. aft.T fallowing.
(I,) At the usual seeding time with a e.'real nurse crop barley or wheat, ^own
thinly.
(,•> On winter wheat, preferably in tJ.e early spring on fresh snow.
Mfalfa is good for the soil on wlii.h it grows, good for the animals that eat it,
and therefore good for the pocket of the farmer who ra-ses ,t.
CONTENTS
rvi.E
3
Introduct. jn
6
Experiments with Alfalfa
Sixty-six Cuttings of Alfalfa in Twenty-two Years
„ . 8
Alfalfa and Its Differ, nt Species
10
Varieties of Alfalfa
Ten Years' Test of Ten Varieties of Alfalfa
Other Experiments with Varieties of Alfalfa ^
15
Alfalfa Plant Breeding
18
Alfalfa Seed Inoculation
19
Soil, Seed and Seeding
Manures and Fertilizers with Alfalfa
22
Alfalfa Seed Production
2&
Co-operative Experiments with Alfalfa
Composition of Alfalfa. Red Clover and Timothy 2«
Influence of Alfalfa Roots on the Soil
28
Uses of Alfa'i.'a
Alfalfa m Combinaiion with Clovers and Grasses for Pasture Production 29
Alfalfa m combination with Clovors and Grasses for Hay Production 30
important Suggestions for tbe Successful Production of Alfalfa 31
BULLETIN 2801
ISEPTEMBKR, 192t
Ontario Department of Agricultare
ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
ALFALFA
C. A. Zavitz, B.S.A.. D.Sc.
INTUODUC TION.
Alfalfa or Lmrriii' is a (Icep- rooted k'>;uiiiiiious plant. Jt ]mi-m-..- a r.ui-
binatioii (.f dinnRtiTistiis wliidi is not ftMiiid in any other farm crop. Tli-' -n'Wth
of alfalfa starts early in the sjiriiif,' and continiie.s tlinm^'hout liie sunmur and
even into the late autumn, its large yieh^s of nutrition- feed for farm >tock,
A Jtroup of farmers listening to a talk on OnUrlo Variegated Alfalfa, the flowers
of which are variegated in color, being composed of violet, blae, green and
yellow, and various blends of these with each other.
its perennial habit of growth and itsbeneficial influence on the soil are all featurei
which commend it highly. Its power of making use of the free nitrogen of the
atmosphere and of the fertilizing elements of the subsoil is of great value. Alfalf*
produces two or three crops per annum in Ontario and, under favorable conditions,
thrives for several years without the necessity of re-seeding. The feed is relished
by practically all kinds of farm stock. It can be used in the green or in the dry
condition, or it can be converted into silage. In some localities of the Province
3
Weighing grawe* gr .wn on the experimental plot*.
An eleven-acre Held of Ontario Variegated Alfalfa grown on
An e«»c ^^^ College farm.
Loading Alfalfa in a thirty-acre field on the College farm.
Alfalfa.
(Uedicago M(iva).
tlif MMKiiil (Tiiii ill tilt' M-a<ioii iit allowfd to ri(H'ii fur »«>f<| iiroiliii'tion to good
ailMiiilii){i'. Alfalftt \* |Hirticularly suitable fur uw in a Imi^ ruiatioii. ami it leave*
tlif »t(j| ill nil oxcellcnt rendition to be foilowt-d \)\ other farm i rii|«. In order
to jfrow alfalfa nucceitHfully, however, it in necennarv t<> underRtaml the trop and
to adopt the ver}- best methods f«i iti< gn)wth. Fortunate, indeed. •■ that rountry
which run proiliire alfalfa HatiHfactorily ax a n>guhir farm crop.
Ei|;lit yeari* ago the Ontario Bureau of Industries conunenred to collert and
to report data regarding the area* of alfalfa in Ontario, .\ceorditig to report*
received in ]',)\'i, and in each of the ycarit 8ince then, there hax becu an average
ot 168,014 acrei* of alfalfa gn)wn in thin Province annually. The M-arcity of MH-d
o{ i' e right kind* of alfalfa ia prolwbly the gratent hindrance to a decided in-
crease In alfalfa production in Ontario at the present time, KfTort* are being
made ij encourage the more abundant growth of teed of the hardy alfalfao. In
all but unfavorable yeara this need can Iw grown very profltahly.
EXPERIMENT.S WITH ALFALFA.
Within the pant twenty-eight years a large amount of experimental work has
been conducted in the growing of alfalfa in the Department of Field Iluibandry
at the Ontario Agricultural College. The College farm \» located inland about
thirty mile* from Lake Ontario, sixty mileg from I.«ke Erie, and se-enty milc»
from Ijike Huron, and at an elevation of 740 feet above the level of liake Ontario,
and of 1.100 feet above sea level.
The total rainfall at Guelph for the six growing months, from April to
Septemlier inclusive, was 17.8 inches in 1919, 21.9 inches in 1918, 25.3 inches in
1!>17, 11.-i inches in 1916, 22.7 inches in 1915, 16.1 inches in 1914, and 17.1
indies in the average of the past twenty years. The U)tal rainfall in the whole
Province for the six corresponding months was 16.2 inches in th-> average of the
p.ist thirty--;ever years.
A portion of Vne experimental grounds at the College has a gentle slope
towards the south, another portion towards the north, and e part of the land is
Cuinparatively level. The soil in the trial grounds in which most of the experi-
ments with alfalfa were conducted is what migh^ e termed an average clay loam.
The itottom lands are tile drained and contain rather more vegetable matter than
the higher portions which have a natural drainage. Hardy varieties of alfalfa
lia\e ;jrown well on all parts of the field except on the low land, which will not
permit of being underdrained to 8 groater depth than eighteen or twenty inches.
On this lojv land, which has a <ve»^ .hmil, the alfalfa does not usually live for
more than two seasons.
The plots of the different alfalfa experimenis have varied iii ^ize according
to tile requirements of the tests, but the individual plots comprising any one test
luive 1 een exactly alike in shape and in size and as nearly as possible in uniformity
of soil. LJach crop produced on eve v plot has been weighed in the field four times,
once immediately on being cut and when green, and three times in the condition
of cured hay. The yields per acre have been determined from the actual yields
of the plots in all cases. It ." - scarcely necessary to state that great care has been
exercised in connection with the details of each experiment.
SIXTY-SIX ClTTINfJS OF ALFALFA IN TSVKNTY TWO VIAIIS.
In emh "f tho |Mwt twenty-four yoar* experimentH Ihvp Ir'iii oinliuteiJ in
growing alfalfa in the experimental grounds at (iuclpli. Tlip rosult- f<.r 1W>'J
and for 1D05 were not recorded in »urti' Hit detail to pfrmit of tin ir hciii!' re-
ported. For the other year*, however, accurate determination!! were made. A
number of dilTerent seeding* are represented. Kach seeding took place in the
spring of tho yen by sowing from eighteen to twenty poundu of alfalfa »eod p«'r
•ere, which was usually sown in combiiiattun with a grain crop, such as Imrley,
at the rate of one bushel per acre.
The following table gives yields per '-'•e of different cuttings of green alfalfa
and of cured hay produced in each of twe..ty-two years:
1
OreenCrop
1
Hay
Firnt
Hecotxi
Third
Fourth
Total
Fint
Heroiid
Third
Fourth ;
T'.l. :
Cuttina
Cutting
Cutting
Cutting
Cutting
Cutting
Cuttiug
Cutting
Tons
Tons
•' -ns
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
IMM
9.90
6.47
.06
2.(»
22.-55
3.08
1.91
• 1.29
.65
H.Ui
1W7
12.04
6.61
4.42
.00
22.08
3.59
1.66
1.23
.INI
6..')8
\fm
9.71
6.85
2.64
.00
18.20
2.30
1.75
.63
.00
4.68
lUOO
11.93
6.00
1.60
.00
19.53
2.33
1.47
.80
.(Ml
4.60
1901
9.70
2.20
7.49
.00
19.39
2.03
1 00
1.60
.mi
4.53
1902
13.3S
8.69
2.96
.00
25. 0(*
2.50
2.02
.64
.00
5.06
190B
13.10
8.63
2.75
.00
24.38
2.50
2.09
.67
.00
5.26
1904
- 12.45
9.35
4.00
.00
:5.80
3.40
2.50
1.08
.00
6.<W
1900
9.78
0.60
4.85
.00
21.23
2.55
1.13
.58
.!I0
4.26
1907
14.56
3.95
.00
.00
18.50
2.95
l.ai
.00
.00
4.00
1908
9.70
6.76
3.73
.00
20.18
2.50
1.15
.75
.00
4.40
1909
8.88
4.56
.84
.00
14.08
2.62
1.40
.14
.00
4.00
1910
16.08
3.88
4.76
.00
23.72
2.94
.Ml
1.32
.00
5.06
1911
8.00
1.80
1.36
.00
11.16
l.?*-
.34
.30
.00
2.40
1912
9.48
4.68
4.72
.00
18.88
2.08
.99
.56
.00
3.63
1913
9.00
2.96
2..i3
.00
14.29
2.66
s<8
.68
.00
4.22
1914
7.64
1.61
4.28
.00
13.53
2.32
'
1.02
.00
3.88
191.5
10.63
6.06
6.92
.00
23.61
3.07
1.63
00
5.91
1916
13.29
6.86
2.40
.00
22.55
3.10
>
.83
.<I0
5.53
1917
12.04
5.54
2.60
.00
20.18
.'.40
\ A.
.90
.00
4.80
1918
2.38
1.98
2.00
.00
6.3(
M
.60
.66
.00
1.90
1919
6.20
1.84
2.12
.00
9.16
: 60
.64
.92
.00
3.16
Ave.
22
10.36
5.08
3.. 31
.v
18.83
;!>
1.28
.82
.03
4.62
Yrs.
The average dates of cutting for the twenty-two years were June '<J3rd for
the first, July 30th for the second, and September 17th for the third.
In each of twenty years the alfalfa gave three cuttings per annum, in 1907
two cuttings, and in 1896 four cuttings were produc a in the one season. The
spring of 1896 opened up very early and that of 1907 very late.
The yield of alfalfa hay per acre amounted to over six tons in each of three
years, between five and si.\ tons in each ot five years, between four and five tons
in each of nine years, and less than four tons in each of five years.
The results show that on the average the first crop of the season was about
double the yield of the second, and that t' ,• second was about one and one-lialf
times that of the third. In some years the yields of alfalfa per acre were two
or three times as large as those of other years. The average annual production
of alfalfa for the twenty-two year period was about nineteen tons of green crop
and fully four and one-half tons cf hay per acre.
The green alfalfa furnished on an average 24.G per cent, of its weight of
dried hay.
ALFALFA AND ITS DIFFERENT SPECIES.
Alfalfa is frequently called lucerne, and botanically belongs to the leguniin-
osffi family of plants. It is not a clover, but both are legumes. The scientific
name of the common alfalfa is Medicago sativa and that of the common red clover
Trifolium pratense.
Alfalfa is said to have been a native of Western Asia and its cultivation by
Greeks and Romans goes back for upwards of two thousand years. It has been
extensively grown in the regions of the Mediterranean Sea, and its cultivation has
been extended to many of the other parts of the world. At the time of the
Spanish invasion the common alfalfa was introduced into Mexico, and in 1854
Alfalfa plants of an upright growth at the right, and of a
spreading habit of growth at the left.
into California. It is now grown very extensively in the Central-western States.
The number of species of alfalfa which have been brought into cultivation
are indeed limited. Four different species have been under test in our trial
grounds in each of the past eleven years. A brief description of each of these
species is here presented.
Common or violet alfalfa {Medicago sativa) is the species which has been
grown extensively for centuries in some of the comparatively warm countries of
the world. It is this type of alfalfa which is grown almost entirely in Central
America, and in Mexico and also in Texas, California, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska
and Kansas, and in other southern and central S'^ates of the American Union.
The plants of the common alfalfa have an upright growth and numerous stems
which grow from the crowns of the roots. The flowers are violet in color, the
coloring matter appearing in different degrees of density, extending from a com-
paratively deep to a very pale violet, the latter being almost white. The .seed
pods are coiled in two or three spirals, the seeds are kidney-shaped, and are about
one-twelfth inch in length.
Variegated alfalfa (Medicago media) is supposed to be a natural cross between
the Medicago sativa and the Medicago falcata. The plants me nu.st'v uinight,
but some have a spreading habit of growth. The flowers are variegated m color,
and besides the violet, include shades of blue, green and yellow, and various blends
of these with each other, and with violet. The seed of the variegated closely
resembles that of the common alfalfa. , , -n i
Yellow lucerne {Medicago falcata) grows wild in some of the European and
the Asiatic countries, and is considered to be very hardy. It generally has a
spreading habit of growth, the stems being somewhat slender, and the leaves rather
narrow. The flowers are yellow in color, the seed pods are sickle-shaped, and the
seeds are somewhat smaller than those of the common alfalfa.
Hairy Stemmed Yellow lucerne {Medicago ruthenica) has a spreading habit
of growth, and yellow flowers with seed pods which are flat and somewhat oval
The seed is brownish in color, distinctly lobed, and is considerably larger than
that of the common alfalfa. ,, , , , ioiq o„,i fn,.
The following table gives the average yield of hay per acre for 1919 »°d^°;
the ten year period. Of the different species there were t^ree pots of the first
two plot of both the second and the third and only one plot of the last. AH o
the ten years' crops came from the seedings which took place in the spring of
1909:
Species
Violet or Common .\lfalfa
(Medicago sativa)
Variegated Alfalfa
i Medicago media )
Yellow Lucerne
{Medicago falcata)
Hairy Stemmed Yellow Lucerne
iMedicago ruthenica)
Source of Seed
United States
(Colorado, Utah and Nebraska)
Ontario .
( Welland and Lincoln Counties)
Russia
Russia
Yield of Hay per .Acre
191'J Averatte 10 years
Tons
1.01
3.20
2.24
.10
The tabulated results show that the Common alfalfas are comparatively low,
and those for 1919 indicate that only a few of the plants are now alive. The seed
was obtained ffom Colorado and from Utah, two of the great alfalfa seed pro-
ducing States of the American Union. If the history of this seed traces back to
California, Mexico, Central America and Spain it will be seen that this particular
alfalfa has been grown in warm climates for hundreds of years. Various other
tests also show us that seed of this character produces plants which lack hardiness
when grown in Ontario.
The average results of tho Variegated alfalfa surpassed each of the other three
species in yield of hay per acre in the average of ten years. The two lots of the
Ontario Variegated alfalfa in this test belong to the strain which has been grown
in the Province since 1871. It seems apparent that at least some of he plants
of the Variegated alfalfa inherited hardiness from the falcata parent. Within the
past forty-eight years, during the period of growth of this particular kind of
alfalfa in Ontario, it is quite probable that the tender plants have been eliminated
and that the more hardy ones have survived by natural selection. , , ,.
The Yellow lucerne shows a fairly good yield, which is due to the hardiness
of the plants more than to the vigor of growth.
The Hairy Stemmed Yellow lucerne gave very low yields throughout owing
to the comparatively small growth of the individual plaiit.s rather than to the lack
10
of hardiness. This species appears to hr.ve no particular value as a fami crop but
may prove of service for the plant breeder.
VARIETIES OF .\LFALFA.
Alfalfas have obtained their varietal names from the countries in which they
have been grown for a length of time, from the men who have been instrumental
in their introduction or in their improvement, from the color of their Howers, etc.
There are many of these so-called varieties of alfalfa. While some of these different
kinds do not vary from each other to any great extent from a botanical standpoint,
there are some marked variations in character of growth, in hardiness, and in pro-
ductiveness. Information along these lines is of great importance in connection
with alfalfa production in Ontario.
A Tex Years' Test of Tex Varieties of Alfalfa.
An experiment was started at the College in the spring of 1909 in which a
number of varieties of alfalfa were sown at the rate of twenty pounds of seed per
acre, with barley as a nurse crop. This experiment included some of the most
noted varieties of alfalfa which were known in Canada and in the United States,
and also others which were not so well known, except in an experimental way.
As there were ten lots of Sand lucerne from Europe, four lots of Common alfalfa
from the central-western States, three lots of Grimm alfalfa from Minnesota and
Nebraska, and two lots each of the Variegated alfalfa from Ontario, and of the
Turkestan alfalfa from Asia, the results from these different lots of tlie separate
varieties were averaged, and these averages, as well as the results of other varieties
taken separately, are presented for each of the past ten }< -.)!■<. It is important
to note that in the autumn of the first season of this experiment there was from
83 to 95 per cent, of a perfect stand of plants on each plot. The results have been
affected principally by the comparative hardiness of the different varieties, and
from this standpoint are particularly interesting.
Average Annual Yield of Hay per Acre (tons)
Varieties
Color of
Flowers
No. of
Tests
Source
of Seed
Ave-
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
10
Yrs.
Grimm
Variegated
3
Minnesota
Nebraska
.H.21
2.42
4.73
4.13
3.65
5.19
4.79
3.-56
1.69
1
!
2.«3lS.60
Ontario
!
Variegated
Variegated
2
Ontario
.3.. 50
2.12
4.5013. .5813. .34
5.20
4.. 56
3.44' .48
1.25 3.20
Baltic
Variegated
1
S. Dakota
.'J. 10
2.52
4.08
3..S6J3..52
5.36
4,00
3.24 .12
1. as 3.12
Euroiiean
1
Variegated
Variegated
9
Euroi*
4.04
2.38
4.91
4.18
2.74
4.96
3,80
2. 85
,40
.823.11
MoDgolian .
Violet
1
Asia
3.20
2.12
4.92
2.72
2.36
4.84
2.80
2.64
1 84
2.95I3.04
Turkestan .
Violet
2
Asia
3.33
1.74
4.44
3.7012.98
5.08
3.70
3.18
.48
1.08'2.97
Sand
Variegated
10
Europe
3.04
2.2«
4.45|3.6J
2.64
4.77
3.85
2.87
.35
.80;2.87
|1
Ontario
3.20
.80
2.. 52
1.84
1.80
3.60
1.92
2.(H)
.04
.34il.81
Moiitana
2.3.i
.96
1.64
1.48
1.88
3.. 52
2. 48
2.16
13
.211 .68
(Utah
) Colorado
[
Comuion . . .
Violet
4
2.31
.71
.95
.99
1.53
2.61
.85
l.ll
.02
.041.11
j Nebraska
i !
'Kansas
i ■
I 1
Texas
2.0.5
.52
.76
.88
1.64
2.76
.53
,88
00
.001 IK)
Peruvian ..
Violet
1
South
America
2.60
.04
.72
.08
.09
.32
.05
.00
00
00
39
Arabian . . .
Violet
1
Asia
.90
.02
.00
.00 .00
I
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.09
11
It ^liould be dearly understood that all the crops reported in tlie table here
presented were produced from the one seeding, which took place in the :-piin^' of
1909.
It will be observed that the yields of alfalfa vary greatly from year t;> year,
even from the one seeding. These differences are largely due to seasonal con-
ditions. It will be noticed, for instance, that practically all varieties ])roduied
larger yields of hay in 1912 than in 1911, in 1915 than in 1914, and in l!il9 limn
in 1918. The results indicate the large amount of winter killing which took plu.e
in the winter of 191T-18, the weather conditions of which were unusually severe.
Of the ten varieties of alfalfa here reported live had variegatod and live \uM
flowers. With only one exception the variegated surpassed the violet flowered
varieties in productiveness.
In addition to the testing of one or more lots of each of the ten varielie-i uf
alfalfa, in plots of equal size, another test was made with e.\actly the same kiids
of alfalfa, by planting the seed of each lot in two rows and leaving the plants
at equal distances apart in the rows. This test has also been continued
period of ten years, definite information being taken annually regarding tli
vidual plants. • i ,
The following table gives the results of the percentage vanegiited, the <-.'m-
parative growth of the plants early in the spring and the percentage of ii\ing
plants in each of the past eleven years, including 1909. the spring in whi.h the
feed was jdanted :
ni- a
iiiili-
Per Ceiit
Cumpara-
V.irieties
Vunefiated «„„;„„•
Per Cent, of L'.v riK Hhiiits
Flowers
I (« years)
Grimm
Oiititrio Varienated . .
Baltic
Kurop.'aM V'ari g ■ ted
Mongolian
Turkestan
Sand
Common
Peruvian
Arabian
34
19
3«
29
1
29
1
0
0
Spring
(Jrowth
(Tjviirs)
96
94
91
9.S
48
84
100
64
i'.m
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
19IOil911
100
100
100
100
100
9B
100
!)9
94
8
97
96
89
76
100
81
88
79
8
0
1912
91
96
86
71
100
6;^
87
62
0
(I
1913
l914 19|.'ijl9l6J917;l9IS|l919
—
.__
---
66
hi
.53 '
79
68
43
69
.16
44
39
28
22
92
92
92
3(i
Xi
30
40
27
24
20
8
«
0
0
0
0
0
0
2<)
17
11
4
64
10
3
0
0
0
J)
16
II
4
ti4
10
3
0
0
0
The foregoing table shows that each of the Variegated alfalfas made a more
rapid growth in the spring of the year than any of the violet \)wered varietic s. The
slowest growth was made by the Mongolian. It will be seen that the Common,
the Turkestan and the Mongolian varieties liad a slight percentage of variegated
flowers as an impurity.
In regard to the percentage of living plants, it is interesting to i:"tc that up
to the end of the eighth year the Ontario Variegated had a larger j)er(entage than
any other variety, with the exception of the Mongolian. In the last year of the test,
however, the three varieties which still retained the greatest perccnlape of li\iiig
plants were the Mongolian, the Grimm and the Ontario Variegated. There were
no living plants of the Arabian after the second, the Peruvian after the third, and
the Common after the ninth ^year. Although the Mongolian proved to be the
hardiest of all the varieties under test, it will be seen by the former table that
it occupied fifth place in average yield of hay per acre. The two varieties
12
which made comparatively high results in both yield of hay per acre and in per-
centage of living plants, were the Grimm and the Ontario Variegated.
The Grimm alfalfa, which gave the largest average yield of hay per acre, is
becoming favorably known in Canada and in the Northern States. This variety
has an interesting history. It received its name from Kulsheim Grimm, who
brought alfalfa seed with him when he moved from Baden, Germany, to the State
of Minnesota where he sowed the seed on his farm in the spring of 1858. The
Grimm alfalfa is still raised in the neighborhood of Grimm's old home in Carver
County, Minnesota. It was evidently an important strain of Variegated alfalfa
which Mr. Grimm brought from Germany, and through the natural selection of
the past sixty-one years many of the tender plants have been destroyed and only
the hardy ones have withstood the eevere winters of Minnesota. In the autsmn
of 1913 it was the privilege of the writer to visit the States of Wisconsin, Minne-
sota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho, and to study
at first hand the value of the Grimm alfalfa in these Northern States. It is making
a uniformly good record throughout, and the demand for seed is much greater
than the supply which is as yet only produced in a limited quantity.
Ontario Variegated alfalfa, which comes second in yield of hay per acre, also
has an interesting history, which the writer has recently been abl*" to trace. In
the year of 1871, Nathaniel Bethel, a farmer and stock-man living in Welland
County, Ontario, went to New York to purchase an importod sheep. When there
he secured from the shepherd, who brought the sheep across the ocean, two potinds
of alfalfa seed which came from Lorraine, a tract of country which was transferred
from France to Germany in the same year. Mr. Bethel sowed the alfalfa seed
on a gentle slope of a chy field on his farm in the spring of 1872.* The alfalfa
area was increased from home grown seed, and, in 1877, Mr. Bethel raised and
sold about seventy bushels of seed produced on less than ten acres. He sent a
sample of the seed to the International Exhibition in Paris, for which a diploma
was awarded. This strain of alfalfa has given excellent satisfaction and has
spread in several counties, particularly Lincoln, Welland and Haldimand. The
Ontario Variegated is still grown on the same farm in which it was sown forty-
eight years ago. There are several fanners in the vicinity of Mr. Bethel's old home
who have never grown any other variety except this Variegated alfalfa.
Dr. Colver, who was both a physician and a farmer, and who lived in Lincoln
County, Ontario, imported fifty pounds of alfalfa seed from Baden, Germany, in
1875. Dr. Colver sowed wenty pounds of this seed on his own farm and divided
the rest of the seeH amongst neighboring farmers. It is quite probable that at
least a part of the V^ariegated alfalfa which is now grown in the vicinity of Wel-
landport and Silverdale, Lincoln County, Ontario, traces back to the seed intro-
ducd by Dr. Colver.
In the summer of 1912 we carefully examined the alfalfa fields on about one
bundred and fifty Ontario farms, at the time when the blossoms could be seen to
the beet advantage. Nearly all of the fields examined in Welland and Lincoln
Counties and some of those examined in Haldimand County were highly variegated.
In some of the other counties, however, where the seed had been purchased from
seed merchants, 98 to 100 per cent, of the flowers were violet, and scarcely a trace
of the Variegated alfalfa could be found. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest
reasons why there are so many failures in alfalfa growing in many parts of Ontario
and why such a large number of old fields of alfalfa are to be found in Welland,
Lincoln and Haldimand Counties which have been cropping continuously from the
time they were sown twelve, fifteen, eighteen, and in some instances even more than
18
twenty years ago. It will be seen from what has been said that it is not surprising
that the Ontario Variegated alfalfa, at the present time, is one of the hardiert
and the most suitable varieties for use in this Province.
The Baltic variety of alfalfa was found growing at Baltic, South Dakota, from
which place it received its name. On investigation this alfalfa was found to have
a history very similar to that of the Grimm variety. It is now believed that the
Baltic and the Grimm originated from the same source.
The European variegated alfalfas were obtained from different parts of
France, Germany and Roumania and included such kinds as Old Prankish, Prov-
ence, Pfalzer and German Blue. The highest yielder of this group has been the
Alt-deutsche Frankische, which is supposed to be the progenitor of our hardy
Grimm alfalfa, which originally came from Baden, Germany.
The Mongolian alfalfa was obtained from Mongolia in the north-east of Asia
through the kindness of the United States Department of Agriculture. Although
this is not a variegated variety, it has given larger yields per acre than any of
the other violet flowered varieties. It will be observed that it withstood better
than any other variety the severe winte' of 1917-18. In the ninth and tenth year,
after seeding, it produced a higher yield of hay than any other variety of alfalfa
under experiment. It is peculiar in its habit of growth, being one of the slowest
to fctart in the spring, and in its recovery after the first crop of the season ie
harvested.
The Turkestan alfalfa came second in yield of the violet flowered varietiea.
It is known that the seed of these particular lots of Turkestan alfalfa came from
Turkestan, in Asia. According to other experiments which we have conducted,
it appears to be rather difiicult to buy true Turkestan alfalfa seed commercially
in this country. '
The seed of the Sand lucernes included in this test came from France,
Germany a-id the United States. The special strain of Sand lucerne which made
the most satisfactory returns was obtained from the United States Department
of Agriculture under the number 21269 and was originally obtained from Germany.
The true Sand lucerne has highly variegated blossoms. Unfortunately, however,
the seed of this variety seems to be quite unreliable when purchased in America.
All Common alfalfas, the seed of which was obtained in Canada and in the
United States, gave comparatively low results. It is interesting to note, however,
that of the seven lots of Common alfalfa the source of seed seemed to exert a
marked influence in the productiveness of the crops. The Common alf.-<lfa seed
which was obtained from Chinook, Mont., was considered by the United Statea
Department of Agriculture to be the hardiest of the Common alfalfas grown in
the United States. The rejults show, however, that in average yield per acre the
Common alfalfa of Montana was surpassed by the Common alfalfa of Ontario by
one-eighth ton and by the Ontario Variegated alfalfa by one and one-h.: ^nns.
The Peruvian alfalfa, obtained from Peru in South America, is c- y un-
suited for cultivation in Ontario. In the southern and south-western stt v , how-
ever, it has done exceptionally well, outyielding practically all of the other com*
mercial varieties of alfalfa.
The Av.tbian alfalfa, obtained from Southern Asia, is the most tender variety
which we have ever grown at the College. Its use lias not become general even
in the southern states.
!|
14
Othbb Expebiuents With Vabieties of Alfalfa.
In the spring of 1$>05, an experiment with thirty-three varieties and strains
of alfalfa was started. The experiment was conductei in duplicate. The mne
tender varieties were winter killed in a comparatively short time. Six of the plots,
however, were cropped in 1919 for the fourteenth year. This experiment did not
include such varieties as the Grimm, the Ontario Variegated and the Sand, which
were scarcely known at the time the experiment was started. The highest average
yields of hay per acre per annum were produced by three Turkestan alfalfas, !ie
highest yielder, (3.0 tons) coming from Khiva, located in Turkey in Asia, the
second highesit, (2.8 tons) from Samarkand, in Russfan Turkestan, and the third
highest; (2.6 tons) from Sairam, located in Chinese Turkestan. These lots of
alfalfa were obtained directly from these countries through the I'nited States
Departiiiciit of .Agriculture at Washington.
Plots of Hardy Alfalfas, ineludlnR Grimm, Ontario VarieRated and Sand Varieties
sown with a nurse crop of ba'ley In the spring of 1912, and from which 21
crops were removed previous to the autumn of 1919.
In 1909. ail experilile•>^ ronsisting of twelve plots coi luctcd in duplioato and
ineludiiiir ditTerent strains of hardy varieties, such as Grimm. Turkestan and Sand,
was started. This experiment was continued for four years. In tlio averajip results
of the ei^ht separate tests conducted in the four-year period it was found that in
yield of hay per acre per annum the Grimm alfulfa from Minnesota came first with
},.3 tons and the Sand lucenie B.P.I. No. 21269, second, with 4.9 tons.
In the spring of 1911, another experiment was started and continued until
191S in which Grimm and Sand alfalfas were compared with ii common violet
varictv. The averajie results for the whole period show the followinj: averag.T
v';(.M<"of hay per acre per annum: Grimm, from Minnesota 4.3 tons. Sand B.P.T.
Xo 21-?69. 4.1 tons and Common violet alfalfa 1.4 tons. In the first year of the
pxperinient the Grimm alfalfa gave 5.3 tons and the Common nlfiilfi) 4.1 tons, and
ii the List year of the experiment the Grimn. alfalfa jiave 2.9 ton* and the Common
15
alfalfa .03 tons of hay jier acre. This i* another evidence of the hardiiiciiH of the
Grimm alfalfa.
In the spring of 1912 still another experimei.t was starte'.l to which three
varieties of hardy alfalfa were sown seven times in order that a very thorough
test might be made regarding the comparative values of the varieties under test.
This experiment has .been continued to the present tinie. Each plot wan cropped
three times each year. In the seven-year period, therefore, twenty-one crops were
removed from each plot of the seven separate tests. The following table gives
the average annual yield of hay per acre of the seven tests conducted for the seven-
year period with each of the three varieties:
Years
Saiui
(B.P.I.XoJil269.Germany)
Ontario Variegat*?!] (irlmiu
( Wellaiid County .Ontario) ( Kxeelsior. .Minn.. L..S..V.)
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Toiw
3.52
3.80
5.81
4.14
S.OO
1.70
1.8S
Tons
3.84
3.42
6.45
4.U2
8.85
1.3«
1.85
Tons
3.43
H.3M
5.2«
4.8:{
3.. 50
2.iJ5
A vi-riixe 7 yta rs . . j 3 . 27
3.4<i
3.(i8
The foregoing results, from th- tliri'c varieties of ulfalfa which were (iut?t..nd-
iii<r for hardiness in former experiments, arc luterestinj; as they coml»ii:c the results
ofl-even separate tests in each of the seven years. Although the Ontario \'uric,!,'atcd
gave the hiirhcst results in tlie tirst year the (irinini alfalfa made tli<' irrealcst returns
in 191i), ai.d in the average for the whole period. It will thorcfon- ho soon that
of the various tests made with different varietii's uf alfalfa the thnc whi.h have
made the best all-round record for hay production, wiion i.anliuess and yield are
both taken into consideration, are the (irinnn, the Ontario \'ariegttte.l and tlio
Sand (B.P.I. Xo. 21?69), and in the order here given.
ALFALFA PLANT B1{P:KD1NC;.
The careful testinfj of existing varieties and strains of alfalfa important in
securing the most suitable kinds for growing on tlie farms of On io. Jt is also
of great value in ascertaining foundation material for breeding pur,,o8e5. Tn order
to do the vf / best work in plant breeding it is very desirable to have the most
a.'curato information possible regarding the material already available. K\en the
))est of existing varieties possess weaknesses. To improve tlie best kinds by se-
lection, and when necessary by cross-fertilization, is the work of the plant breeder.
Alfalfa. owyi2 to its great variations in plant structure, forms a prolific field for
investigation, with ojiportunities for achievements which are of both practical and
scienti fie value.
Considerable work has been done at the Ontario Agricultural College with the
object of securing hardv alfalfas suitable for hay or for pasture and which are at
the same time good producers of seed. T' itli this object in view many strains of
1«
B
05
_■= ^ M
Qi O J I
5 »- a, 02 _
si s>«s:
= *•= .§
s5«(§Ss
IT
An IntereBtlM Altalfa plant, showing method of rt production by means of cr«P«nf
root Ss This was the original plant discovered at the Ontario Ajrtculfural
CoUele after a careful study of thou«indg of plants produced from .eet
obtained from different parts of tb«> world.
An Alfalfa plant with creeping root stalks removed from one of the plots at the
College in the tprlug of 1920.
18
«lfalf« hart baen tMtad in ploU and tbouanda of alfalfa plants havt batn itndiad
individaaUy. W« are obtaining hardy itraint which wa balicTa will b« of raal
atrrie* to th« fannert of tha Prorince.
A nnraaiy plot of on* acre, with planti of tha Orinun, tha Baltic and tha
Ontario Variagatad alfalfat waa aatabliihad in 1918. Theia plimta hara been grown
at equal distance* apart in order to giv» them the lame opportonitiei for derelop*
ment Some of the moet tender plants have ditappeared. Tha remaining plants
are being carefully studied each year and seed is being secured from the mo#t
promising specimens. The object is to obtain foundation material from the most
desirable plants of these hardy varieties now in cultivation.
A little packet of less than one hundred seeds of alfalfa, which came originally
from Nor' em Norway, has furnished some interesting material. The plants are
very hara.v. the flowers variegated, but the yield of seed is not abundant These
plants resist our severe winters better than even those of tha Orimm variety. Wa
now have hundreds of plants of this strain, and seed is being secured from those
plants which are making the highest record.
According to our present knowledge the Ontario Agricultural College waa
either the first or the second institution bu the American Continent to discover
an alfalfa plant which -would spread by means of cr<!eping root stalks or rhisomes.
We now have some very interesting plants which spread abundantly from the under-
ground stems. These plants, however, are very light producers of seed, but it is
hoped by cross-fertilization to increase their seed producing powers.
A considerable amount of work has been done to prevent natural cross-ferti-
lization by enclosing the plants in cages and by tripping the plants artificially.
Crosws have been made between different species, varieties and strains of alfalfa
and attempts have been made at the hybridization of alfalfa and sweet clover, and
also of alfalfa and black meddick. Mr. William Southworth, when engaged in this
Department, made a number of cross-pollinations between the alfalfa and the
black meddick with the object of securing plants which would naturally pollinate
more readily th^ does the alfalfa. It was thought that this cross was successful,
but in studying the progeny in its diiferent generations there seems to be no appar-
ent evidence that a cross between these two types of plants took place.
As a i-eault of our plant breeding work it is believed that in the near future
we will have new varieties of alfalfa for Ontario which will surpass in various ways
those kinds which are nov used in cultivation.
ALFALFA SEED INOCULATION.
That leguminous crops such as alfalfa, sweet clover, sainfoin, red clover,
vetches, pens and beans thrive best when they are grown in the presence of legume
bacteria u now a well established fact. These micro-organisms, wHfen present in
well drained fertile "'1, enter the roots of the plants forming enlargements or
nodules on the root lese very minute forms of life make use of the free nitrogen
of the aUncn^phere .vuich is thus transferred to the plants making them moro
valuable in food constituents and in fertilizing materials. Hone of the other plants
except the legumes can make use of the atmospheric nitrogen in this way. Each
class of seed requires a different kind of culture. It is possible for alfplfa to grow
fairly well without the presence of theee minute forms of life by mat. jg use of
the nitrogen already in the soil. Their presence, however, seems to have the
19
dovbl* value of incrauing both Um qulitj and the quantity of the crop. Wh«th«r
or not the proper bacterial forma are in the awl can be aacertained by growing a
amall amount of alfalfa and examining the roots for the pretence or abience of
the nodulei. If no nodulee are preeent, it ie quit« evident that the toil ii lacking
the proper orgariinu. These, howeTer, can be coii"eyed to the toil either by the
application of inoculated soil from other field* or by the artificial inoculation of
the leed. Extensive experimental work has shown that the easiest and best way
is to inoculate the seed with the necessary bacteria. For fuller information, the
reader is referred to Outario Agricultural Cnllege Bulletin No. 164.
In 1897 experiments in the inoculation of seeds of leguminous crops were
conducted at our College with nitro-cultnres imported from Germany. At a later
date, other experiments were ■ 'ucted with bacterial preparationg obtained from
Washington and rtill later with those produced in the Bacteriolc .al Department
of our own College. We took great care in the experiments throughout and there
was no marked advantage in the yields of the crops from the use of the different
cultures. This was evidently due to the fact that the soil in the experimental
grounds was already well inoculated from the successful growing of alfalfa in years'
past. Th-"i was made quite evident from the abundance of tubercles on the plants
each year. In one experiment, however, which was conducted in duplicate for the
four years from 1909 to 1912 inclusive, about seven-eiphths of the ncparate it '
showed some increase from the nitro-culture.
The Bacteriological Department of the Ontario Agricultural College has pre-
pared and distributed legume cultures to farmers throughout Canada each year
since 1906. In each of the ten years blank forms were sent with the cultures, on
which the farmers were requested to report the results of the seed inotulation as
to whether it had increased the crops.
In the ten year period 27,750 cultures were sent out aui the reports received
showed that 80 per cent, alfalfa and 70 per cent, red clover gavj increased veturn*
following seed inoculation.
SOIL, SEED AND SEEDING.
For the best re»ultH with alfalfa it is important to select land that is in a good
state of fertility, and that has a deep calcareous sub-soil with a proper amount of
moisture to enable the young plants to get a proper start during the first year.
It is also important to select land which is comparatively free from seeds and
roots of weeds and of other troublesome plants so that the alfalfa will take full
possession of the soil. Alfalfa does particularly well after a cultivated crop in
which the land has been thoroughly cleaned. In all ca»es the soil should be well
cultivated and a fine seed bed formed to enable quick and uniform germination
of the seed after it is sown.
Tl\e quality of the seed is of vital importance. It should lie large. uniTorm
and bright, of good vitality and free from impurities, especially from seeds of
weeds and of other plants which are troublesome in a field of alfalfa. It is wise
to secure a sample before the required quantity of seed is purchased and this can
be sent to the Seed Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, and a report
secured regarding the purity and the germination of the seed or it can be tested
at home. If the seeds are large and uniform, are free from seed.s of Sweet Clover,
Yellow Trefoil, etc. and will germP-' ' when placed between sheets of moist
blottiiiK ]*»\»r or in • box of taod wliith i« kipt warm mul iiiui.t. the larger bulk
can then be ordered acconling to Miniple. The bulk h.t. when reieiNetl, »hould alio
be examined in onler to be »ure that it i» the tame ai the naniple.
A li»tle rare in thi» way may avoid a total or a |»artial failure of a <rop and
alio may prevent the intriMluttion on the farm of weeds whi«h are ditlicult to
eradirate.
Kxi^rinu'nts have U-en t<mdu«tcd at the ColieK'" m w>wing alfalfu in the
autumn and in the upring ImiIIi with and without a nurse crop. The nurse (■n)p
UMe<l in the autumn was wint. r wh»at and that used in the spring wa« <'«t». A»
a result of two ilistimt exp<>rinicntt», each extending over a j)eriod of two years,
it was found that the spring sowing gave the better results. The alfalfa which
was sown in the spring alone gave an average in the second year of th.' test of
17.S tons and that sown with oata an average of ICO tons of green cmp [mt acre.
The ulfa'fa sown in the autumn with winter wheat was a partial failure and that
Mwn without any nurse crop was badly winter killed.
In another experiment spring wheat, barley and oats were used as nur-.' cn.ps.
Five plota were sown with each kind of grain thus making fifteen plots sown with
grain and alfalfa seed. The average total yields of green alfalfa per a.re for two
years obtained from the plots on which the nurse crops had been sown were as
iollows: spring wheat 20.5 tons, barley 18.0 tons and oats 12.9 tons. In this .-x-
periment the spring wheat proved to be the best and the oats the poorest cri.p with
which to sow alfalfa. The oat crop, especially if the seed is sown thickly, has a
tendency to smother out the young and tender plants of alfalfa. All nurse crop*
used with alfalfa should be sown rather thinly.
In still another experiment alfalfa was sown alone and with one Inishel of
barley per acre in the spring of the year. The test was made in duplicate, i.
the average results of the six tests in three years it was found that th. seeding
with barley gave a slight increase over the alfalfa which was sown alone. It has
leen found that when alialfa has been sown without a nurse crop higher returns
have been obtained from seeding in July than in the early spring.
In each of the past ten years alfalfa has been sown on winter wheat in the
early spring. The seed was sown on old snow, on fresh snow of one or two inches,
and on frozen ground. The average results show that sowing alfalfa seed on a
fresh snow of one or two inches gave excellent satisfaction, prcving successftil in
every instance. The seedings on the old snow and on the frozen ground gave fairly
good success. When alfalfa seed i.^ sown early in this way no harrowing or culti-
vation is neccssarv. Cicrmination takes place early and the young plants get a
start before the winter wheat makes a large growth. This method requires less
labor and is more successful than when the alfalfa seed is sown and harrowed in
at later dates.
Experii^ents have shown that alfalfa seed sown alone in July on >i summer
fallow has given excellent satisfaction. This gives an opportunity of killing weeds
and weed seeds, of conserving moisture, of furnishing an excellent seed bed, of
enabling the alfalfa plants to get a good start beiore winter and in preventing
weeds from producing seed in the autumn.
It is usual to sow from eighteen to twenty pounds of alfalfa seed per acre
providing it is not sown in combination with different varieties of grasses and
dovers. If the crop is to be grown principals for seed production, however, the
amount might be reduced to fifteen or even to twelve pounds per acre if sown
broadcast. Experiments have been conducted^both at the College and throughout
Ontario in sowing alfalfa seed in rows thirty inches apart, using only three pounda
tl
of ie^U por acre. Tlii» i» •» ext«llent pUn when only « ' »«U qutntity of ie**! of par-
Ucultrly high quality ih obtainable. The row* pormit ot cultivation and when lown
thinly are apt to produce a large amount of leed in favorable aeaioDi. It i« uaually
coMidered wiK to lecuw aeed from the fint cutting in the leawn when the crop
ii cultivated in rowi and from the ».^ond crop when »own broadcait.
In preparing the land to receive the alfalfa leed it i« an cicellent plan to
cultivate the wil thoroughly and then to follow with a wceder or with both a
harrow and a weeder immediately before the aeed it lown. If a nurie crop of
grain it to be used the woder atUchment ihould be placed in front of the tubes
of the gram drill. The land ahould then be levelled either with a light harrow or
with a weeder. In thii way the alfalfa seed ha« the advantage of being located
between the row* of grain an at a suiUble depth in well prepared «oil which haa
been worked in such a way as to jjive the »e«<l the advantage of Inith the fertihty
and the moisture in the «oil.
MAXCRES AND FERTILIZERS WITH ALFALFA.
The influence of manures and fertilizers depends so much on the mechanical
condition and on the fertility of the soil, as well as on many other conditions, that
it makes it a verj- difficult matter to conduct experiments at any one place, the
results of which are equally applicable to all kinds of land. Some soils are com-
paratively fertile while others are deficient in some of the fertilizing elements.
Some soils are acid and require lime, while in other instances the application of
lime would show no special advantage. These varying conditions, .ud many othera
should be taken into consideratiou when studying the results of fertilizer experi-
ments conducted with alfalfa at any one place.
In a representative part of the experimental grounds, four plots, each one-
twentieth of an acre in size, were set aside to test th^ influence of farmyard manure
on alfalfe. On two of the plots farmyard manure was applied at the rate of twenty
tons (about twelve loads) per acre, and this was thor ghly mixed throughout the
soil. The other plots were left unmanured and the alfalfa seed was sown on all
four plots. The crops were harvested and the results carefully recorded in each
of three years. The following figures give the average annual yields in tons of
green crop and of hay per acre per annum, respectively, of the duplicate plots con-
ducted over the tliiee-year period : manured land, 22.4 and 5.8 ; and unmanured
land, 20.7 and 5.3. These n Ma show an annual difference of about 1% tons
of green crop and of J^ ton of hay per acre in favor of the land which had received
the farmyard manure.
In another experiment farmyard manure at the rate of twenty tons, and hen
manure at the rate of five tons per acre were applied as top dressings on alfalfa
plots which had already produced seven cuttings of alfalfa. The manures were
applied after the first cutting of alfalfa had been taken from the land in the early
part of the summer. After the application of the manures was made two crops
of alfalfa were harvested in the same year and three crops in each of the two years
following. The average annual yields in tons of green crop per acre for each of
the treatments in the three years' test were as follows : farmyard manure 20.3, hen
manure 18.9, and no manure 18.2. The influence of the hen manure was quite
marked at first but that of the farmyard manure was more lasting.
23
Two experiinentH \, ith eoinmfr(;ial fertilizers with alfalfa have been condueti-il
at the College. One of these consisted of twenty jdots which were fertilized in
the same spring in wiiich the alfalfa seed was sown and the other consisted of
twelve plots which were fertilizea as a top dressing on the alfalfa sod after the
crop was well established. The first experiment consisted of four tests with five
plots in each and the second experiment of two tests with six plots in each test.
Tiie fertilizer used in each test consisted of Muriate of I'otash and Nitrate of Soda
each sown at the rate of ICO pounds; of Superphosphate at the rate of 320 jHtunds;
and a complete fertilizer at the rate of 213 pounds per acre. In each test in the
.-(•eond experiment Basic Slag or Thomas' Phosphate Powder was also used at the
rate of 3"iO pounds per acre. One plot was left unfertilized in each of the te>ts
of both experiments, .\fter the fertilizers were applied the first experiment was
conducted for two and the second for three years. The results of the?e experi-
ments show that the phosphatic fertilizers gave the greatest yield of alfalfa per
acre. Of the different fertilizers used, the Superphosphate fave the higliest yield
per acre in the first experiment, and the Basic Slag or Tliomis' Phosphate powder
the highest, and the Supcrpliosphate the second highest in the other experiment.
The greatest average annual yield of green alfalfa per acre was produced on the
land which had received the Superphixsphate at the time the seed was sown but
this increase, ov'er the crop produced on the unfertilized land, was only three-fifths
of a ton per acre.
.\1;FAL1 A SKKl) PUODL'CTION.
The last lour or five years have been abnormally wet, the amount of rainfall
for the growing seasons being appiMximately 30 ])cr cent, above the average.
Previous to this period alfalfa seed production was becoming (piite .::i industry in
some parts of Ontario. As both a croj) of bay
and a crop of seed can ]i<^. produced in the same
season, if weather conditions are favorable, manv of
the alfalfa growers have found seed jiroduciion
quite prolitalde. From answers to extensive en-
quiries made from farmers who liad grown alfalfa
seed in Ontario for at least five years some very
valuable information was obtained. We learned tiiat
alfalfa seed bad been produced with success in at
least thirteen c<jiinties of Ontario. In all cises
where seed was jjrodiiced it was taken fn ni the
second crop, the first crop of the season being con-
verted into hay. The yield of alfalfa seed per acre
varied considerably, the highest being seven Im'^hels,
and the average a little over two bushels ]i< r acre.
The farmers determined the particular time for
cutting the crop for .seed production Ipy the color of
the pods, most of them stating that the crip]i should be
cut when the pods were brown; some preferred to
leave the crop until the j)ods were almost black. The majority cut their seed crop-
with a mowing machine, a numlier having used a table attachment with the machine.
About 30 per cent, used the reaper and about 13 per cent, used the self-binder.
As a rule the crop was cured in the windrow by those who used the mowing
Alfalfa seed clus'.er.
23
machine and in the bunclies b^- those who usoil tiie rcaiier or the mowing nnuhine
with the table attaeiinient. Tiiose wlio used the self-binder cured the crop in
shocks. The threshing was done mostly with a clover huiier and took place almost
any time after the crop was harvested until mid-winter. When the threshing was
done in the autumn dry weather was preferable, and wlien in the winter, cold
frosty weather gave the best results. Nearly all farmers reported iiaving obtained
good quality of seed in most years. The seed was sold ciiietly to neighboring
farmers and to local dealers. Tiie greatest ditliculties reporteil in alfalfa sei'd
production in Ontario were dui- to injuries caused liy grasshoppers, wet weatlier,
blighted plants, early frosts, and a few mentioned partial failures from thick
seeding. The ideal c«indition appeared to be a comparatively moist sea-on for the
production of the hay t loji and a rather dry season after tiie hay had been removed
from the land. The great nnijority stated tlnit they consiilered seed production
One acre of Grimm Alfalfa town in rows tliirty inches arart by U'-ing three
pounds of seed per acre. This pliotoRraph was taktn in the autumn alter
the seed crop had been cut and shocked at. shown.
did not injure the idanls. Nearly all were eiilhiisiast ic in regard to the ini]iuir-
ancc of alfalfa growing in Ontario, lioth from tin' -tandpoint of hay jnd of >f'd
production.
t"0-OlM:it.\TlVK KXrKKIMKNTS WITH AM AMW.
Within the pa-t few years a ituiiiticr of co-niieratiM' cxperinii'iit- have luin
arranged bv the College and have hecn coiid
•ted by farmers in various ]iart- of
dii( ted throu'di the
the Province. An experiment with dilTerent varieties was
nediuni of the Experimental riiion. and all other expcrinunt- wiie arranged by
the ricld Husbandry IVpartinent of the Cullegi
sent out from the Col
seed and instruetmns were
either directlv to the fanners who wi.-hed tn conduct
24
-the tests or through the Agricultural Kepreseutatives who had the tests conduaed
through the co-operation of some of the farmera of their respective counties. The
various exjwriments included the following:
1. Testing different varieties of alfalfa.
2. Testing the influence of Lime with the alfalfa crop.
3. Testing the value of Inoculation with alfalfa seed.
4. Comparing alfalfa sown broadcast and in rows for seed production.
5. Comparing alfalfa in rows sown at the rate of one pound, two, three, four
and six pounds per acre.
6. Comparing the first and second crop of alfalfa for seed production.
Some of the single plots were one acre in size, while in other instances they
were ^mailer. The plots used for some of the row tests were one acre each. Those
used for the lime and the inoculation tests were one-quarter acre and those used
ior the co-operative work, through the Experimental Union, were one-eightieth of
an acre each in size.
An alfalfa field which has been cropping continuously for about fifteen
years since it was sown. The crop shown Is the third growth m
the one season.
Tho variety tests up to date have covered a period of twelve years and all
other co-operative experiments with alfalfa have been carried out principally within
the past seven years, the chief experiments having been started in the years 1913,
1914 and 1915. Tie various co-operative experiments furnished valuable informa-
tion in the differerit localities in which they were conducted, some of them having
a marked influence in placing alfalfa production on a more permanent basis.
The various returns .showed that the Grimm and the Ontario Variegated
varieties i)roved more hardy than the Commori, Southern or Northern grown
alfalfa in the different counties. The reports along this line are very convincing.
In the co-operative tests the lime was applied at the rate of 1,600 pounds per
acre in the form of ground unburned limestone, ground burned limestone, slaked
lime or hvdrated lime. The lime was thoroughly mixed through the soil before
seeding took place. This material was supplied either by the Agricultural Repre-
sentative of bv the fanner himself. The results show decided variations from the
influence of the lime. In some ca,=es nr> advantage was observed from its appli-
cation while in other instB,.oes the increase in tlie allallii eio,, in.m the lime
application was quite marked. One experimenter stated that his soil naturally
contained a large amount of calcareous matter and that he saw no influence, what-
ever, from the limed as compared with the unlimed plot. On other <oils, where
lime was quite deficient, the application of lime showed a decided advantage. Of
all the reports received, seventy-five per cent, of them showed applications of lira*
to be beneficial.
It is rather an interesting coincidence that the co-opeiative experiments con-
ducted by the College in alfalfa seed inoculation gave exactly the same res^ults as
was obtained by the Bacteriological Department, the reports of which appear m
another part of this bulletin. In both instances alfalfa seed which was iiuKulated
gave higher results than the uninoculated seed in «<> per .ent. of the individual
tests.
A section of a nursery plot of young Alfalfa p ants.
The results of the experiments in sowing alfalfa seed broadcast and in rows-
show a considerable variation. The broadcast system seemed to be pretera de for
hay production, but many reported favorably of the row system for *he production
of seed Of the different amounts of seed, when sown in rows thirty inches apart,
the results indicated the most favorable returns from three and four pounds per
acre as compared with either thicker or thinner seeding. One of the special ad-
vantages of the row system is the fact that if only a small amount of alfalfa seed
of some particularly hardy variety is available, it is a great advantage to sow this
seed in rows at the rate of three or four pounds per acre in comparison with twelve
to fifteen pounds per acre when sown broadcast, and when seed production is the
main object in view. For seed production the general evidence favored using the'
first crop of the season when in rows and the second crop of the season when sown
broadcast.
Owiiij; to the very large amount of rainfall in the last few years alfalfa seeci
proJuotion has been abnormally low. In 1916 one acre of land was sown in the
Experimental grounds at the College in rpws thirty inches apart by using exactly
three pounds of seed on the acre. The stand was almost perfect, the plants usually
meeting between the rows. Similar evidence was obtained by a number of growers
•over Ontario, who sowed at the rate of from three to four pounds per acre in rows
two and one-half feet apart. The seed produced from the first cutting at the
College was 165 pounds per acre in 1919 and 74 pounds per acre in 1917. In
1918, owing to the exceptionally wet weather, the crop did not ripen and conse-
quently produced hay instead of seed.
C0*1 POSITION OF ALFALFA, RED CLOVER AND TIMOTHY.
The Chemical Department at the College, in co-operation with the Field
Husbandrj- Department, conducted experiments in each of two years in comparing
the chemical composition and the digestibility of alfalfa, red clover, and timothy.
Small portions were analyzed chemically to determine the composition and larger
portions were fed to sheep to determine the digestibility. The following table g'
the comparative amounts of digeiifble constituents in one ton of hay of each oi
three separate crops:
Constitusnts
Alfolfa
Red CloTer
Timothy
Proteiu
T.I)R
192.2
30.0
496.6
205.5
T.h8.
141.0
29.4
587.4
209.4
Lbs.
48.7
Fat
16.2
Nitrogen Free Extract ...
Fibre
528.4
306.9
The figure.* here presented are very suggestive and are worthy of study. They
show that the alfalfa hay contained about fifty per cent, more digestible protein
than hay made from common red clover, and abcut four times as much as that
made from timothy.
INFLUENCE OF ALFALFA ROOTS ON THE SOIL.
Three separate experiments were conducted to ascertain the comparative value
of the sods of alfalfa and of timothy. After the crops were removed from the plots
the land containing the roots of these crops was plowed. On the soAs of the first
experiment, winter wheat was sown in the autumn of the year. On those of the
second experiment, barley was sown in the following spring, and on those of the
thirfl experiment, corn was planted the ucxt year. The average yields of the grain
crops produced per acre are shown in the following table:
V
Sod
AUalfa Sod. .
Timothy Sod
Winter Wheat
BusheU
61.5
42.1
Barley
Busheb
.10.2
19.7
Corn
Bushe's
24.0
17.9
In the second experiment the test with alfalfa and timothy sod was repeated
four times. Barley was sown on each of the eight plots in the following spring.
The detailed results of yields per acre were very interesting and are as follows :
In comparing the mechanical condition of the soil on which alfalfa and differ-
ent varieties of clovers and grasses had been grown, it was found that there was a
decided variation, resulting from the action of the roots of the different crops on
tne soil. This influence was shown in two ways in particular ; first, by the difficulty
or the ease in whi^h the sod land could be plowed, and second, by the stiffness or
the mellowness of the upturned sod. In one year twenty-eight plots of sod -'-re
plowed. These were made up of four separate tests each consisting of seven plo
Each test was made up of the sods of one variety of alfalfa and three varieties
each of clover and of grass. When the plants of each of the four tests were plowed
careful examinations were made and detailed notes were taken regarding the
physical condition of the soil in each instance. It was found that the alfalfa sod
was more difficult to plow than that of any of the clovers or the grasses, but that
the inverted sod of the alfalfa plots was exceedingly mellow and friable, surpassing
all others in this particular. The comparative differences of the various sods can
be understood fai.-ly well from the following figures :
Sods
Alfalfa
Common Red Clover
Mammoth Clover . . .
Alsike Clover » ..
Timothy
Meadow Fescue
Orchard Grass
Difficulty or ease iu
Plowing
(10 being most difficult)
'9
5
6
4
8
7
7
Loose, friable condition
of inverted Sod
(10 being most friable)
18
7
«
S
8
4
4
The alfalfa sod f usually somewhat more difficult to plow than that of the
clovers or the grasses, owing to the very large roots of the alfalfa plants which
are frequently pulled out of the subsoil instead of being broken or cut in two.
■ <>n the roots, to the length of two, three, four or five feet or even more, are
•d out of the subsoil and left in the upper soil a large amount of root material
28
ii thus deposited in the land at the very surface. The noil is thu.s left In exi-elient
physical condition and a.s the loots decay they supply a large amount of humus
particularly rich in fertilizing elements. In one year the Department of Field
Huebandry spent some time in removing the alfalfa roots from the land to a depth
of two feet. This was divided into four layers of six inches each and the roots
were carefully separated from each layer. The roots from each of these depths
were then analyzed by the Chemical Department of the College. The pcrreiitages
of the fertilizing constituents in the dried roots of seventeen montlis* <M allalfsi
for each of the four six-inch layers were as follows:
Roots taken from different depths
of Soil
Nitrocen
N.
Potash
K'>0
Phisphorio ]
.\i'id
Hi Os !
Unie
CaO
Vimt Hiic ini'hi's
l.«4
1..58
1.59
1.58
.41
.43
.42
.55
.55
.51
.48
.59
SAOond six iDcht^K >
.38
.48
ffnurth fiix inchen
.75
The roots of young alfalfa plants were found to contain larger i.ercentages
of fertilizing materials than those of the plants which were seventeen months old.
rSES OF ALFALFA.
In tiie Province of Ontario alfalfa may be used in a variety of way?, such as
for the production of hay, green fodder, pasture, seed, green manure, silage or
as a cover crop in orchards. Possibly its use in this Province is in about the same
order as here given.
For the production of hay it is a most valuable crop. I'nder favorable con-
ditions it produces large yields of hay of excellent quality, ^'e^y great care, how-
ever, should be taken to out the alfalfa at the commencement of bloom or at the
beginning of the second growth of stems at the crowns of the roots. Extensive
experiments at the College show that alfalfa deteriorates very rapidly both in
percentage composition and in digestibility after the early blossoming stage.
Caution should also be exercised not to allow the alfalfa to lie very long in hot
dry sunshine as the leaves soon become crisp and are easily broken from the
plants. As analyses show the leaves to be the richest part of the alfalfa, special
care should be exercised to lose as few of thorn as possible. For the best quality
of hay it is considered wise to rake the alfalfa into windrows as soon as it is
sufficiently wilted and, at the proper time, to place the material .in cocks where
,the curing process should be finished.
The green fodder produced by alfalfa is both nourishing and appetizing. It
is often an advantage to start to cut alfalfa for green fodder some time before
it has started to bloom. That portion of the crop which cannot be used for this
purpose before one-third of the blossoms have made their appearance diould be cut
and cured into hay. The fact that alfalfa is a perennial plant, and the fact that
it produces two, three and four cuttings in the one season, makes it a very desirable
crop to use for the production of green fodder for feeding to farm stock to supple-
ment pastures in the dry hot summers.
89
III th..- a\fra;.'.' ii-iilts of uxjuTinu'iit!* ci.niliittt'il ut llif (.'<illi%"
diiTori'iit vi'iir-. a
than any i>n'' <•!' tin
Alsike Clover, W
III iDiir
ri'
llulla. when grown alone, gave a greater yield of puriture jxr a.
■ th.' following crops: L'omnwn Hed Clover, Muinmolli (lover,
hit.' Clover, Yellow Trefoil, Sainfoin an.l Hurnet. When grown
and pastured ah.ne, however, there seems to be even a greater ri^k ol cattle and
sheep he.,, mill- i.loatcd than when pa.-sturing on clover. The writer has never
heard uf injurious results from bloating with any kind of farm stock pasturing
on alfalfa, providing it is used in combination with grasses and clovers in the ioriii
of a permanent pasture. In pasturing alfalfa there is a danger of either cattle
or dieep eatiii.' the tops so closely to the ground that they are apt to injure tlic
crowns of the roots and in some cases to entirely kill the plants. Some excellent
results have Ijeen ohtaiued from pasturing hogs and poultry on alfalfa.^
In each of eight or ten years seed has been produced at the College from
either the first or the second cuttings of alfalfa. The results have been about the
same from each cutting when sown broadcast, but have been largest from the first
cuttin>' when the alfalfa has been sown in rows. Tiie production of alfalia seed
has l»Tii ,jnlv fairly satisfactory at the College but in some parts of Ontario it
is becoming an important industry. Further information is given in this bulletin
under the heading of " Alfalfa Seed Production."
Alfalfa is not used alone as a silo crop to any great extent in the Province.
The fact of its producing three crops in the season, two of which come at in-
opportune times for filling the silo, forms one of the objections to using the crop
for silage nurposes. The third crop of the season, which is usually ready for
eutiincr about. the middle of September, is sometimes placed in the silo along with
corn to excellent advantage. When alfalfa is used alone for silage it is difficult
to cure an.l is apt to produce a dark colored silage as is the case with nearly all
of tlie legumes.
Alfalfa certainly produces a large amount of exceedingly valuable material
which can be used as a green manure. In the majority of cases, however, it u
probably better to use the crop for feeding purposes and then to save the manure
and return it to the land in that form rather than to plow under the whole crop.
It is quite probable there are other crops more suitable for using as a cover
crop in orchards than alfalfa. The growth of the plants is upright and rather
open, and the roots penetrate so deeply into the soil that they tend to rob the
subsoil of its fertility and of its moisture, both of which are so essential to the
best welfare of the trees.
ALI-\LFA IN COMBINATION WITH CLOVERS AND GRASSES FOR
PASTURE PRODUCTION.
While it is not generallv recommended, except in special circumstances, to
pasture alfalfa when grown alone, this crop can often be used in combination with
grasses and clovers for permanent pastures. For this purpose either one of the
following mixtures of varieties and quantities of seed per acre should give good
satisfactfon: Mixture No. 1-Alfalfa, 4 pounds; White or Dutch Clover, 1 pound;
Timothv, 4 pounds; Orchard Grass, 8 pounds; and Meadow Fescue, 8 pounds,
makin.r"a total of 25 pounds of seed per acre. Mixture No. 2— Alfalfa, G pounds'
Alsike" Clover. 2 pounds: White or Dutch Clover, 1 pound; Orchard Grass, 4
pounds: Meadow Fescue, 4 pounds; Tall Oat Grass. 3 pounds; Meadow Foxtail,
2 pounds: and Timothv. 2 pounds, making a total ..f 21 pounds of seed per acre.
30
Till' lii-t imiiifd iiiixtiiiv lia- l>f<ii i.inl'iillv ti-f«il at tlit College uiul lin^i •^Iwn good
rt'siilt- over a lonj,' iicriixl <>f tiiiH'.
Tlie .H'til of a iifriiiaiieiit paHturi- mixture cnii 1* si'v h in tlic farly »iiring,
eitliiT with or without a «ruiii crop. It is bftter to I ' «; «onie cultivated crop
whicli lia* been carefully looked afl<'r (luriiijf the previou* seai»on. If the seed
mixture is sown alone, liie to|)- of ilie plant!* should be tut oreasionally during
the summer and itlloweil to lio tm tlu' ^rround as a muUh. If a nurse crop is used,
about one bushel of liarley or <d' spring: wheat per acre is rieommended. As a rule,
oats do not ft>rm a jiooil nurse crop for a permanent pasture mixture. If, however,
they are used tliey shotiM be sown thiidy. The seed for the permanent ]ia-ture
should be sown iii front and not behind the tube drill. Some of the liner seed*
can be sown from the irrass seed Im)X and the others by hand.
Tlie most de.-irnble condtinution of luirdy gra-se> and clovers, wlu'n once well
established on suitable land, should produce a good pasture, appetizing to the
animals, excellent in (piality, abundant in growth and permanent ;ti charartir.
ALFAI-i-A IN ('((.MHIN'ATIO.V WITH ( L(>\ KRS AM) CHASSKS FOK
HAY I'KOUrCTION.
Sixteen mixtures of grasses and clovers for hay production have been grown
in each of six separate two-years' tests. Alfalfa, Common Hed Chncr. Mammoth
Hed t'lover and Alsike Clover were used in combimition with Timothy. Ordiard
Grass, Tall Oat (irass and. Tall Fescue (irass. Each mixture consisted of a grass
and a legunu-. The mixtures produced either two or three cuttings each season.
The third cutting resulted from the mixture containing alfalfa. The seed mix-
tures were sown with a grain crop in everj' case. No cn.p was obtained in the
same year in wliich the seed was sown. The cuttings wvre made in every
instance from the second and the third years after seeding took place. The
following table gives the animal average yield of green crop and of hay per acre
per annum for the six separate tests of the four mixtures containing alfalfa, and
also for the mixture of Timothy and Common Red Clover:
Mixtures
Tall Oat Grass and Alfalfa
Orchard Grass and Alfalfa
Timothy and Alfalfa
Tall Fescue Grass and Alfalfa
Timothy and Common Red Clover.
(Sreen Crop
Tons
18.17
18. 5«
17.24
18.81
12.02
Hay Crop
Tons
.5.21)
4.85
4.64
4.57
3.4U
Of the si.xteen different mixtures the four containing alfalfa surpassed all
others in yield of green fodder and in yield of hay per acre. It will be noted
that the annual yield of the Tall Oat Grass and Alfalfa was 1.8 tons greater than
that of the Timothy and Common Red Clover. In this experiment the Alfalfa
of the legumes and the Tall Oat of the grasses exerted the greatest influence in
producing a high yield of hay and the Timothy and the Alsike Clover the greatest
influence in low hay production. The Alfalfa and the Tall Oat Grass are both
very hardy, start early in the spring, are ready to cut at about the same time,
withstand hot dry weather in the summer and form a good growth in the autumn.
31
iMi'oinwNT sn;«;KsThiNs loij tiik si n r.ssi I I. i lioineriMN
OK ALKAI-FA.
SeltMl land liuviii^; a dfiin. nifllnw. furtilc -urt'iM<' soil. iirfl'iraMy of a .al-
tareou' iiatuic and overlvin;.' i-itfu-r a nnturally ipi- an urtifuiallv \mII dniui.d
nub*>il. If the soil is arid, lime choiild Ik- applii-d. I'se lar^'*' \>\n\n\> «t<d of
strong: jitTiniinitinf.' |io\vcr and of sumo hardy \arit'ty i>Ufh iv Urinmi t.r Ontario
Vaiic^ralcd. Thf Ci.niinon alfalfa strd of tiio Wc-t.Tn States, ••vn tli.iii.;li it lias
btrn uortlK-rn j;ro\vn, u^ually prodiiies plants wliiili are t.xj tender in I'ln^' rp>i>t
tiie climatic conditions of Ontario. Mako use of seed wliich tirades liiu'li aciording
to the Seed (.'oiitrol Act. Inoculate wed with the proper kind of lun leria. pro-
vidinjr alfalfa has not been jirown surcessfully on the land in rti.nt yiar>. Sow
the aTfalfa seed at the rate of eij;hteeii or twenty jiound- per a. v. Any on" of
the followin<; methods has proven decidedly succe-sl'ul ai'ording to \hr r.sult- of
experimental work :
Two rows of Grimm Alfalfa, which show
decided hardiness in comparison with those
on either side, which are tender varieties and
unsulted for cultivation In Ontario.
1. If the land is free from weed imi)urities alfalfa seed may be sown on
winter wheat in the early sprinjr either on the old snow or, better >till, on a fr-jh
snow of one or two inches. When sown in this way no harrowing or cultivation
is necessary.
i. On a suitable seed bed, and as soon as the land is sufficiently dried in the
spring, alfalfa seed may be sown from the grass seed box ])laced in front of the
tube drill. About one bushel of barley, wheat or rye per acre sown from the tubes
of the drill makes a very good nurse crop. Oats are not quite as suitable as they
are somewhat more smothering and require a long season for maturity. After
the alfalfa seed is sown the land should be harrowed lightly.
3. About the middle of July alfalfa seed may be sown alone on land which
lias been carefully .summer fallowed providing there is sufficient moisture for good
germination.
Alfalfa should never be pastured during the first year and seldom, if ever,
afterwards, as the pasturing very frequently destroys the plants. The croj) should
be cut for hay or for green fodder in the following year after the seeding takes
place and as soon as the plants start to bloom. Care should Ije taken to protect
I t
M
tlH.. croi. In.,., r..... nn.l to .etai,. u, ...a..y o( tl.o U-Bve* «h |K«.iblf. lu ...any
pUcci m Ontario .illalfa will i-nnluce thr.-e cr..,m of hav iht ur.num. 1 he th rd
cnttinK. Lowner, may 1* u-o.l to a-lvantaKc ror mixin;? with corn whn. tilling the
•ilo a« this form, an e.i.y m.-th«,1 of l.an.llinK' the green alfalfa in th« autumn
and alHo i ove. th. ^uMly of tl..^ ...rn HilaK-. I" favorabl.. -;^""»' '"J
CKSciallv ill loine l.«-alitieH, hay may k. obtained from the fir.t cro,. i.n.l M-ed from
the gerund crop in ••a.li ^••a-'on and for a period of icvtral yf-ar-.
If 11... diivtioii. 1....T i:U>'n an. .ar-f,.lly follow.-d alfalfa may I-- .•speeted
to pPHliUf largo and valual.le crops f..r a nun.lHr of year, without r.-s.-eding.
A few Alfalfa Dloti. showing the OnUrto Varle«mted In the «'ont. /|»f
Qrlmm ftrtheet away, and the Common Alfalfa from the Western
aute« in iSe centre. The reader will obaenre how tender the alfalfa
KSed from Colorado UUh. Nebraska and Texas Is In comparison
with the other two hardy varieties.
I ■'